2025 MG HS Essence Review

The company has launched its second-generation HS lineup, introducing a fresher-looking, better-equipped and overall more mature midsize SUV package aimed at taking the fight to the biggest names in the family-friendly segment.

MG’s aspirations are very much underpinned by its latest-generation HS, which hopes to close the gap to its more established midsize SUV peers thanks to its undeniably impressive value proposition.

The question remains, though, what do you get in the most premium version of the MG HS and are you better off with a cheaper version of MG’s value-centric family SUV?

To find out, we got behind the wheel of the range-topping MG HS Essence to see if it’s worth stretching your budget. 

MG HS Essence Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

While prices have risen considerably over the previous HS range, it’s a second-generation product that has taken significant leaps forward in some key areas.

Prices kick off at a very impressive $33,990 drive-away for the entry-level MG HS Vibe, rising up to $36,990 for the mid-range HS Excite.

This range-topping HS Essence is priced at $40,990 and brings a stack of equipment that few rivals can match at this price point.

• HS Vibe - $33,990

• HS Excite - $36,990

• HS Essence - $40,990 (tested)

Prices listed above are inclusive of on-road costs.

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What Features Does the MG HS Essence Have?

Sitting at the very top of the range, the HS Essence comes packing a particularly lengthy equipment list for the price.

Over other variants in the range, the HS Essence picks up a powered boot lift, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charging pad, heated front seats, a four-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, a sunglasses box, rear privacy glass and power-folding side mirrors.

The range-topping Essence also picks up features you’ll find in the mid-range Excite, which adds a set of 19-inch alloys, leatherette upholstery, fog lights and sat-nav on the instrument cluster and a surround-view monitor with front-mounted parking sensors.

You’ll also pick up all the goodies bundled into the entry-level HS Vibe which, we think, stands out as the best option in the range when it comes to equipment for the money.

This means there’s everything from a LED head & tail lights, LED daytime running lamps, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry & start, roof rails, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, leather gear lever with a polyurethane steering wheel and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.

MG HS Connectivity & Infotainment Features

For the money, the MG HS’ infotainment system makes a great first impression.

There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster paired alongside another 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system which, in many cases, is an arrangement reserved for premium-only versions of its rivals - but comes as standard in the entry-level HS.

It’s a solid display that offers great brightness levels, high-definition graphics and a great colour palette.

We did find, however, that some of our touch inputs were a bit clumsy, requiring multiple swipes for a successful trawl through the home menu, but there’s more than enough processing power to keep things feeling smooth.

Potential buyers should take note that MG mandates all the climate control changes, even a quick change in the volume, be done via the touchscreen, which takes some time getting used to, though it comes pretty intuitively for tech-savvy buyers.

MG’s infotainment system is easy to navigate, particularly when it comes to changing the active safety settings, which, as you’ll discover later, is something you’ll need to tweak every single drive.

The majority of the HS range picks up a six-speaker sound system, while the flagship Essence receives a more powerful eight-speaker unit that adds more fidelity but remains a little underwhelming.

Buyers also pick up a 12-month iSmart connected services subscription to access remote vehicle controls, location tracking, connected satellite navigation routing and vehicle diagnostics.

Does the MG HS Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Nope.

While MG has made some serious leaps forward in terms of infotainment technology in the latest-generation HS, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are, unfortunately, not on the menu.

To access Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, you’ll need to bring your own USB-A cable. This is surprising because USB-A is already an outdated port, though, MG does throw in a USB-C to A adapter for owners who threw theirs out years ago.

In our time behind the wheel, we did experience a few isolated drop-outs in the Apple CarPlay connection, though overall the infotainment system handled things well.

Is the MG HS Comfortable to Drive?

One of the most notable improvements to the latest MG HS has been the driving experience.

It takes just a few minutes behind the wheel to see that the company is eyeing off its major rivals and has made significant strides to make the HS an equally refined midsize SUV package.

The same powertrain remains in place, though its power and torque outputs are slightly higher which, impressively, has not come at the expense of fuel efficiency.

All members of the HS range come powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that now pushes out 125kW of power and 275Nm of torque, which is sent to the front wheels via a revised seven-speed, wet-clutch DCT.

The power increases are modest, though they do give the HS more urgency off the line, while the dual-clutch transmission offers some seriously snappy shifts as you pick up the pace.

The power delivery is a little peaky, with a fair slab of the torque coming into the mix when the turbo kicks into life, though it’s a very decent engine for the money.

Like many DCT units, though, there is some hesitation at lower speeds and while shifting from reverse to drive, for example, though this is not an issue specific to the HS.

Around town, the MG HS is quick to prove itself a user-friendly and confident midsize SUV package.

The steering is incredibly lightweight in the comfort setting, to the point of feeling completely void of feedback, though the normal driving mode is spot-on for the segment and the sportiest setting adds even more feedback to the mix.

The turning circle is also reasonably compact for a midsize SUV, which makes light work of tight quarters and parking.

MG has given the HS a very accommodating suspension package, which works well at ironing out small and medium bumps around town with ease while the engine is subdued in the background, making it feel nice and refined around town.

When tested on a rougher stretch of country road, the HS handles some punishment on the bumpy stuff, though it doesn’t quite offer the same level of chassis composure as the segment’s best.

Stretch its legs out on the highway and the HS is a seriously strong performer, though, with MG paying some serious attention to noise, vibration and harshness levels inside the cabin, resulting in a particularly quiet and refined cabin at higher speeds.

All up, the HS is a seriously improved midsize SUV over its predecessor that offers no major concessions in terms of the driving experience - a feat made even more impressive by its affordability and the fact it’s a far easier package to drive smoothly than its predecessors.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

MG has extracted some extra power and torque from its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-pot while managing to optimise fuel efficiency over its predecessor.

The previous HS range was rated at 7.3L per 100km on the combined cycle, which has now dropped to 6.9L per 100km.

In our time behind the wheel, we covered 706 kilometres worth of town, highway and country driving and averaged 6.7L per 100km, though our driving pattern this particular week erred heavily toward highway mileage.

That said, it looks to be a relatively easy feat to match MG’s official fuel consumption figures. The HS range has a 55-litre fuel tank and requires 95 RON fuel.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Climb aboard and it’s clear to see that this looks like a very deserving next-generation take on the HS.

While the previous HS certainly got the job done, it did so with a very modest interior design that was far from one of the key selling points.

In its latest form, though, the cabin design has become one of the most appealing aspects that gives it some serious showroom presence.

Ergonomics are solid thanks to the power-adjustable front seats and adjustable steering wheel, with a soft-enough finish for your elbows and left knee.

It’s a 21st-century affair up front, with the tech-heavy cockpit headlined by two displays, a chunky little steering wheel with a flat top and bottom and an interesting design for the dashboard keeping things feeling very fresh.

Look closely, though, and there’s more than a fair share of cheap, piano black trim elements that are a magnet for fingerprints, dust and scratches.

The age-old tap and shake test presents some squeaks and rattles from the centre console, which moves more than you’d expect with some moderate force applied.

We’re also a little concerned on the longevity of the outside of the driver’s seat, which crumples completely as you enter the cabin and seems like it won’t age with much grace.

The cabin is a little bit of an exercise in look… but don’t touch, but you can’t exactly expect European quality at this particular price point.

Forward visibility is solid thanks to the relatively low-slung dashboard, though rear visibility is poor due to a mass of bulky plastics surrounding the C-pillar.

The HS’ storage options aren’t a particularly strong point of the package, either.

The centre console houses a pair of cupholders at the base of the dash, a wireless charging pad and some storage inside the folding centre armrest, but that’s it for practical touches in the console.

The door bins aren’t suitable for anything bigger than a 600mL drink bottle, though you do get a decent-sized glovebox and a small cubby to the right-hand side of the steering wheel for small items.

Moving rearward, the latest MG HS range is 100mm longer and slightly wider than its predecessor, with the 45mm wheelbase extension translating to improved interior accommodation.

While the difference is marginal, the second row of the HS has benefited the most from the added real estate.

Legroom behind our 185cm driving position is very decent, with a gap between our knees and seatback, meaning kids have plenty of space for long trips.

There’s also a nice little cut-out in the back of the front seats that gives your knees an extra inch or so, though headroom is quite limited for tall rear occupants; there was a two-finger gap between by head and the roof.

Even with the extra width, three-abreast seating isn’t a strong suit, though the lack of a transmission tunnel means the floor is flat and the perfect place for an uninterrupted game of footsies.

Amenities in the back of the MG HS include a set of air vents, map pockets, two USB-A charging ports and a folding armrest with cupholders, with a pair of ISOFIX anchors at the base of the outboard seats and a trio of top tether mounts on hand to install a child seat.

How Big is the MG HS Essence’s Boot?

Boot space figures have grown in the latest HS thanks to its longer, wider platform.

That said, it remains very much in the middle of the midsize SUV pack when it comes to boot space, with 507L worth of real estate on offer with the rear seats standing, expanding to 1,484L with the rear bench folded.

These are notable increases over the previous HS range, with an extra 44L worth of boot space in a five-seat format and an extra 197L worth of real estate with the rear seats folded.

While the gains are significant, the HS’ cargo space remains on the leaner side of the midsize SUV segment, outpaced by the RAV4, Sportage, Tucson and H6 but offering more than you’ll find in the back Mazda CX-5.

There are a pair of small cut-outs behind the wheel wells with a netted storage area, but a noticeable lack of any tie-down points to secure loose items, with a space-saver spare tyre under the boot floor.

• MG HS Boot Space Minimum: 507L (up from 463L)

• MG HS Boot Space Maximum: 1,484L (up from 1,287L)

Is it Safe?

Another area MG has taken some significant leaps forward with the latest version of the HS range is the amount of active safety tech bundled in, and a better calibration for the software.

That said, some pesky quirks of the overzealous safety tech remain, serenading you in a chorus of abrasive beeps and chimes for little to no reason, at times.

All members of the latest HS range pick up AEB, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane-change assistance, tyre pressure and driver attention monitoring, lane-departure alerts, front & rear collision alerts, traffic jam assist, a rear-view monitor with rear parking sensors and seven airbags inside the cabin.

That is a serious amount of safety kit for the money, while upgrading to the HS Excite and this Essence variant also adds a surround-view monitor with a transparent view mode and a set of front-mounted parking sensors.

MG has done well to optimise many of the smaller details of its active safety suite to make them less paranoid, but the lane-keep assist and driver attention monitoring system still need a polish.

When the adaptive cruise control is engaged, we found the steering assist bouncing from one invisible edge to the other. This quirk changed depending on the lane markings, but remains a fundamental aspect to get spot-on.

Also, if you’re a fan of good driving and check your mirrors and blind spots frequently, the attention monitoring will waste no time punishing you for it. At times, you’ll be punished even if you’re staring straight down the barrel, which left both perplexed and perturbed.

These can all be turned off with a few quick swipes within the infotainment display, though you’ll need to get into this routine every drive.

Does the MG HS Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The MY25 MG HS range hits the road wearing a fresh five-star ANCAP safety rating after testing in 2024 saw it score the following marks.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

• Child Occupant Protection: 87%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 83%

• Safety Assist: 74%

The MG HS’ five-star ANCAP safety rating currently applies to all petrol versions and is set to expire in December, 2030.

What Warranty Does the MG HS Come With?

The MG HS very much leads the segment when it comes to warranty coverage.

The company gives buyers a ten-year/250,000-kilometre warranty with up to ten years’ worth of roadside assistance when you keep it serviced within the network.

Buyers also pick up ten years or 150,000 kilometres’ worth of capped-price servicing.

Five years of capped-price servicing for the MG HS is priced at $2,354, while the cost of servicing for ten years under the capped-price servicing package totals $5,741.

Service intervals for the MG HS range stand at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever elapses first.

• Five-Year Capped Price Servicing Cost: $2,354

• Ten-Year Capped Price Servicing Cost: $5,741

Our Verdict: Is the MG HS Essence Worth it?

MG has made some significant steps to close the gap to its more established rivals and certainly outperforms most, if not all of them, on simple value for money.

It’s a far better midsize SUV package on the road with a sweet set of looks that help it shrug off some of the cheap design elements, both inside & out, that held the previous-gen HS back for many buyers.

That said, there’s still a gap, both in terms of driving refinement and some key quality areas inside the cabin that make us think some of its interior materials won’t age with the same grace as its most popular rivals.

In the same breath, though, the MG HS presents outstanding value in an extremely popular segment of the market - but we think if you’re buying purely for its value proposition, the entry-level Vibe is a more sensible option.

That’s because it picks up the same engine and a seriously impressive features list, with little in the way of differentiation between the base model Excite and its more expensive Excite & Essence siblings.

All up, the MG HS is fast catching up to its more established midsize SUV competitors, and they should all be legitimately worried about the pace at which MG is developing its latest vehicles, which are already impossible to ignore on the value front.

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Five MG HS Specs You Need to Know

1. Ten-year/250,000-kilometre warranty

2. Ten years of roadside assist & capped-price servicing

3. 507 - 1,484L boot space

4. 6.9L per 100km combined cycle fuel economy

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2024)